Page 81 of The One for Forever

He’s the sweetest. I kiss him to show my appreciation, which leads to me straddling his lap as we make out. And then a trail of clothing leading upstairs to his bedroom.

I was a little unsure the first time he brought me here. In that moment, all the complications of our history were impossible to ignore. But I’ve finally put my guilt over wanting my friend’s father to rest. Rex isn’t my best friend’s dad anymore. I mean, he is, but his place in my life is so much more than that now. We’re equals. He’s my boyfriend. My lover.

As soon as this trial is over and I can focus fully on Rex, I’m going to tell him that I love him. I don’t want any distractions when I say those words. It’ll be worth the wait.

And now,it’s here. The start of the trial.

We begin with jury selection, which takes a while given all the media attention this case has received. Every eye is on Amber at the defense table. Her hair is pinned half up, and she’s wearing a skirt suit and heels. She looks like she stepped out of a 1940s movie. Old school glamour, but conservative too.

After a couple of days of questioning potential jurors, the judge impanels the jury, and it’s time for the opening statement.

Lana gets up to speak. “This is a case about greed. The evidence will show you a young woman who simply couldn’t get enough. Enough money, enough fame. When Amber Printz married Thompson Hayworth, she gained a life of luxury and privilege. But when her husband failed to give her every advantage she craved, when she feared she’d lose it all, she chose to get rid of him instead.”

Lana places a hand on her belly, her other hand bracing against our counsel table. “You’ll hear testimony that Amber created an elaborate scheme to hide her tracks on the day of Thompson Hayworth’s murder. She set a scene worthy of a movie. She went to a day spa, created her alibi, and sneaked back home to do away with her husband. She trashed her own house to make it look like the work of an intruder. But the evidence will show that Amber wasn’t where she claimed to be that day. She’s an actress. But ladies and gentlemen of the jury, do not be fooled.”

When she’s finished, Lana returns to her seat. But as soon as she’s turned away from the jury, her face twists with discomfort. Her hand presses to her belly.

“Lana, are you all right?” I whisper.

“Just Braxton Hicks. I’m fine.” She takes a few gulps from her glass of water.

Derek Keller makes his opening statement for the defense next, railing against the incompetence of West Oaks PD and touting his client’s innocence. “The People’s case is entirelycircumstantial. Based on speculation and unfair assumptions about a beautiful young woman falling for an older man. The prosecution just implied Amber is a gold digger. But she’s a grieving widow who loved her husband and was devastated to lose him.”

I somehow keep a straight face, my eyes on the table in front of me. But inside, I’m triumphant. Derek Keller claims our case is circumstantial, but Pete Diamond will provide eyewitness testimony that Amber lied about her whereabouts. Keller will try to say Pete is lying, of course, but I’m confident the jury won’t buy it.

When it comes to putting on a murder prosecution, there are a few different ways to go. One is to start with testimony, usually from police witnesses, about the victim and the crime scene. Walk the jury through the procedure, step-by-step, as the DA slowly builds a powerful case pointing to the defendant. But a far more dramatic strategy is to begin with the single most damning piece of evidence. Create a first impression that the jury won’t be able to forget throughout the rest of the trial.

Our trial team has already discussed our strategy. And we’re going with the drama.

After the opening statements and the judge’s comments to the jury, Lana stands once again. “Your honor, the People call Pete Diamond.” She takes a step.

Suddenly, Lana stumbles, crying out in pain.

There are gasps all over the courtroom. I jump up, rounding the table to hold Lana up before she falls. I send a panicked glance at Rex, who’s in the audience with Max. Lana’s husband looks ready to vault over the barrier to get to her.

“Get paramedics here,” the judge tells the bailiff before excusing the jury from the room. A few minutes later, the judge has called a recess until this afternoon and paramedics are checking Lana’s vitals.

“Your contractions are coming pretty fast,” one says. “More than just Braxton Hicks. You may be going into premature labor, Ms. Marchetti. Let’s get you to the hospital.”

Max is next to her, holding her hand. Rex has his arm around my shoulder as I look on, barely able to breathe. Lana is only seven months along now. This isn’t supposed to be happening.

I just want her and the baby to be all right.

And then I remember—we’re in the middle of a trial right now.

Max and Lana head to the hospital, but I stay at the courthouse. Every moment is tense as we wait for news. Finally, Rex looks up from his phone. “Max just texted. Lana wants you to go ahead with the trial.”

I’m stressed and worried. Not just about Lana and the baby, but about going on with the trial without her. I won’t be alone up there because I have the two other members of our team. But I was Lana’s second chair. With her gone, that makes me first. I’m suddenly in charge.

Rex walks over to me and rests his hands on my shoulders. “You can do this. Lana believes in you. So do I.”

I breathe out slowly. Having Rex here settles me. He said exactly what I needed to hear. I need to talk to my colleagues about our plan going forward. But Rex is right. I know this case. I know the evidence. Lana was going to question Diamond, but I’m the one who secured his testimony.

“Okay,” I say. “I’m ready.”

“The People call Pete Diamond.”

I stand in front of the courtroom as Diamond approaches the witness box. The bailiff swears him in. I ask my preliminary questions. His name, occupation.

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